Ep 100. Dan Schawbel: Back to Human

Ep 100. Dan Schawbel: Back to Human

“Technology has created the illusion of connectivity, but in reality it leads to isolation.”

Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel is a partner and research director at Future Workplace, an HR advisory and research firm, and the Founder of both Millennial Branding and WorkplaceTrends.com. His third business book is Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation. Dan is bestselling author of two previous books: Promote Yourself and Me 2.0. He’s conducted dozens of research studies and interviewed over 2,000 of the world’s most successful people, including Warren Buffett, Anthony Bourdain, Jessica Alba, will.i.am, and Michael Bloomberg. He has been recognized on lists of fascinating, high-impact thought leaders, like Inc.’s and Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and many others .

Dan and Stew talk about the use and abuse of technology. They explore how technology’s promise as a vehicle for connectivity hasn’t been fully realized because it paradoxically produces loneliness. For instance, remote workers are harder to retain; they tend to be less committed to their organizations because they lack sufficient in-person human contact. They also discuss technology’s upside; how it can be used to increase efficiency and to help people build communities online so they don’t feel so isolated. This has been an especially effective tool for people who reach out for help by making themselves vulnerable and sharing their struggles, including with mental health problems. Dan describes some of the practical ideas and tools from his research, including The Work Connectivity Index, a diagnostic companies use to assess whether and how people do indeed feel isolated and alone.

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